Eugene Modernism 1935-65 Disclosure Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, or handicap in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office for Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013. The activity that is the subject of this publication has been financed in part with Federal funds from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, as provided through the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the view of policies of the Department of the Interior, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior. Front Cover: All images are postcards of Eugene created between 1935 and 1965. At the center is Willamette Street looking south from Broadway, c.1965. Clockwise from upper right is: Lawrence Hall on the University of Oregon campus, c.1940; Eugene Travelodge, c.1955; Park Blocks looking northeast towards the Lane County Courthouse, c.1958; Broadway Motel, c.1960; Hyatt Lodge Motel, c.1965; and Patterson Towers, c.1965. Acknowledgments ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Eugene Modernism 1935-1965 context statement was researched and prepared by Sally Wright and David Pinyerd of Historic Preservation Northwest, a local historic preservation consulting firm, in conjunction with the City of Eugene Planning and Development Department staff. The Context presents an overview of Eugene’s history during the Modern Period and is intended to provide a broad understanding of the community’s growth and development. The document also identifies the type and likely location of the resources associated with this period of history. Thanks go to the staff and volunteers at the Lane County Historic Museum, especially to Ed Stelfox, who assisted in the search of the museum photograph collection and newspaper clipping files and who provided requested images. Thanks also Aerial view of Eugene looking west, c.1945. Photo courtesy of Lane County go to Ken Guzowski, Historical Museum (GN236). Eugene’s Historic Preservation Planner, for his contributions to this project. Thank you Dorothy Gilmore and Don Lutes for assistance and believing in the project. In addition, thank you to the Eugene Historic Review Board for its support of this project and for their contributions to the development of the goals and objectives stated herein. June 2003 Eugene Modernism 1935-65: Acknowledgments i Preface PREFACE The Eugene Modernism 1935-1965 context statement is the culmination of a 14 month collaboration between Historic Preservation Northwest, the staff of the Eugene Planning and Development Department, and members of the public. Since history is a process, this context statement must be seen as a “work in progress,” periodically reviewed, corrected, and made current. It is a product that we hope will help us all to appreciate and evaluate Eugene’s record of the modern era. Eugene Historic Review Board (as of April 2003) Nancy McFadden, Chair Gunnar Schlieder, Vice Chair Kip Amend Teresa Giustina Adell McMillan Karen Seidel Christine Taylor Thompson For further information Ken Guzowski Eugene Planning and Development Department 99 West 10th Avenue Eugene OR 97401-3038 541-682-5562 [email protected] June 2003 Eugene Modernism 1935-65: Preface ii Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION............................................................1.1 Historic Context Definitions.............................................1.2 TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION..................................2.1 Roads and Automobile Services ........................................2.1 Bus Service ..........................................................2.6 Airports .............................................................2.7 Newspapers .........................................................2.8 Radio Stations .......................................................2.8 Telephone and Telegraph Companies ...................................2.9 Television ...........................................................2.9 Summary ...........................................................2.10 Transportation Endnotes..............................................2.10 GOVERNMENT ............................................................3.1 Depression and World War II...........................................3.1 Post-World War II.....................................................3.3 Summary ............................................................3.7 Government Endnotes.................................................3.8 RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ..............................................4.1 The Depression and World War II.......................................4.1 Post-World War II.....................................................4.2 1950s ...............................................................4.4 1960s ...............................................................4.5 Summary ...........................................................4.6 Residential Endnotes..................................................4.7 COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT .............................................5.1 1930s and 1940s ....................................................5.1 1950s and 1960s .....................................................5.2 Summary ............................................................5.6 Commercial Endnotes .................................................5.6 June 2003 Eugene Modernism 1935-65: Table of Contents iii INDUSTRY AND MANUFACTURING..........................................6.1 Timber and Lumber ...................................................6.1 Sand and Gravel Extraction ............................................6.4 Oil and Gasoline Distribution ...........................................6.5 Industrial Parks and Industrial Corridors..................................6.7 Summary ............................................................6.8 Industry Endnotes.....................................................6.8 AGRICULTURE ............................................................7.1 Farming and Dairying .................................................7.1 Meat Packing and Fish Selling..........................................7.2 Feed and Seed ......................................................7.3 Fruit, Vegetable and Nut Processing.....................................7.4 Nurseries and Florists .................................................7.5 Summary ............................................................7.6 Agriculture Endnotes ..................................................7.6 EDUCATION...............................................................8.1 Depression Era ......................................................8.1 World War II..........................................................8.2 1950s and 1960s .....................................................8.4 Summary ............................................................8.6 Education Endnotes...................................................8.7 HIGHER EDUCATION.......................................................9.1 University of Oregon...................................................9.1 Lane Community College ..............................................9.3 Northwest Christian College ............................................9.3 Summary ............................................................9.4 Higher Education Endnotes ............................................9.4 CULTURAL GROUPS ......................................................10.1 African-Americans ...................................................10.1 Danes .............................................................10.3 Asians .............................................................10.4 Hispanics ..........................................................10.4 Summary ...........................................................10.5 Culture Endnotes ....................................................10.5 RECREATION AND SOCIETY...............................................11.1 Amusements and Recreation..........................................11.1 Social Clubs and Service Organizations.................................11.5 Medicine ...........................................................11.6 Summary ...........................................................11.8 Recreation Endnotes .................................................11.8 RELIGION AND FUNERARY................................................12.1 Religious Organizations ..............................................12.1 June 2003 Eugene Modernism 1935-65: Table of Contents iv Funerary ...........................................................12.4 Summary ...........................................................12.5 Religion Endnotes ...................................................12.5 SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE ....................................................13.1 IDENTIFICATION OF MODERN RESOURCES 1935-65.........................14.1 Previous Identification and Designation of Resources.....................14.1 Distribution of Resources .............................................14.3 Types of Resources .................................................14.3